Tyson to eliminate human antibiotic use in US broilers

Company sets goal to stop using human antibiotics in US broiler flocks by September 2017, examines end to human antibiotic use in pigs, turkey and cattle

Tyson Foods is striving to eliminate the use of antibiotics
also used in human medicine from its U.S. broiler chicken flocks by the end of September
2017.

Tyson has already stopped using all antibiotics
in its 35 broiler hatcheries, requires a veterinary prescription for
antibiotics used on broiler farms and has reduced human antibiotics used to
treat broiler chickens by more than 80 percent since 2011.

"Antibiotic resistant infections are a
global health concern," said Donnie Smith, president and CEO of Tyson
Foods. "We're confident our meat and poultry products are safe, but want
to do our part to responsibly reduce human antibiotics on the farm so these
medicines can continue working when they're needed to treat illness."

"Given the progress we've already made
reducing antibiotics in our broilers, we believe it's realistic to shoot for
zero by the end of our 2017 fiscal year. But we won't jeopardize animal
well-being just to get there. We'll use the best available treatments to keep
our chickens healthy, under veterinary supervision," Smith said.

The company will report annually on its
progress, beginning with its fiscal 2015 Sustainability Report.

Tyson Foods' international business is
committed to taking similar measures on antibiotic use in its global chicken
operations but has not set a timeframe.

Tyson Foods is also forming working groups
with independent farmers and others in the company's beef, pork and turkey
supply chains to discuss ways to reduce the use of human antibiotics on cattle,
hog and turkey farms. Those groups will begin meeting in the summer of 2015.

Company says it won’t compromise animal well-being

Tyson Foods plans to work with food
industry, government, veterinary, public health and academic communities, and
provide funding, to accelerate research into disease prevention and antibiotic
alternatives on the farm. The company is also getting input from its Animal
Well-Being Advisory Panel, which is made up of independent advisors.

"One of our core values is to serve as
responsible stewards of animals – we will not let sick animals suffer,"
Smith said. "We believe it's our responsibility to help drive action
towards sustainable solutions to this challenge by working with our chicken,
turkey, beef and pork supply chains."